Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessories
andattachmentsareneededtoproperlyand
safelyperformthejob.
Note:Useonlyaccessoriesandattachments
approvedbythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothing,includingeye
protection,substantial,slip-resistantshoes,and
hearingprotection.Tiebacklonghairanddonot
wearjewelry.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentisused,
andremoveallobjectsthatcanbethrownbythe
machine.
•Checkthatoperator-presencecontrols,safety
switchesandshieldsareattachedandfunctioning
properly.Donotoperateunlesstheyare
functioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.If
lightningisseenorthunderisheardinthearea,do
notoperatethemachine;seekshelter.
•Donotrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Onlyoperateinwell-litareas,keepingawayfrom
holesandhiddenhazards.
•Ensurethatalldrivesareinneutralandthatthe
parkingbrakeisengagedbeforestartingengine.
Starttheenginefromtheoperatingpositiononly.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Be
suretotravelsidetosideonhillsides.Turf
conditionscanaffectthestabilityofthemachine.
Usecautionwhileoperatingneardrop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns
andwhenchangingdirectionsonslopes.
•Donotraisethemowerdeckwiththeblades
running.
•DonotoperatethemachinewithoutthePTO
shieldorotherguardssecurelyinplace.Besure
allinterlocksareattached,adjustedproperly,and
functioningproperly.
•Donotoperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessusingagrasscatcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingor
overspeedtheengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engage
theparkingbrake(ifprovided),shutoffthe
enginebeforeleavingtheoperator'spositionfor
anyreason,includingemptyingthecatchersor
uncloggingthechute.
•Stoptheequipmentandinspectthebladesafter
strikingobjectsorifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.
Makethenecessaryrepairsbeforeresuming
operation.
•Keepyourhandsandfeetawayfromthecutting
unit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackingupto
ensureaclearpath.
•Keeppetsandbystandersawayfromanoperating
machine.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns
andcrossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopthe
bladesifyouarenotmowing.
•Beawareofthemower-dischargedirectionand
donotpointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemowerundertheinuenceof
alcoholordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachine
intoorfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,
trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
SafeHandlingofFuels
•Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamage,use
extremecareinhandlinggasoline.Gasolineis
extremelyammableandthevaporsareexplosive.
•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother
sourcesofignition.
•Useonlyanapprovedfuelcontainer.
•Donotremovethefuelcaporaddfuelwiththe
enginerunning.
•Allowtheenginetocoolbeforefueling.
•Donotrefuelthemachineindoors.
•Donotstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwhere
thereisanopename,spark,orpilotlight,such
asonawaterheateroronotherappliances.
•Donotllcontainersinsideavehicle,onatruck,
oronatrailerbedwithaplasticliner.Alwaysplace
containersonthegroundawayfromyourvehicle
beforeî‚¿lling.
•Removeequipmentfromthetruckortrailerand
fuelitontheground.Ifthisisnotpossible,
thenaddfuelwithsuchequipmentasaportable
containerratherthanfromafuel-dispensernozzle.
•Keepthenozzleincontactwiththerimofthefuel
tankorcontaineropeningatalltimesuntilfueling
iscomplete.
•Donotuseanozzlelock-opendevice.
•Ifyouspillfuelonyourclothing,changeyour
clothingimmediately.
•Donotoverllthefueltank.Replacethefuelcap
andtightenitsecurely.
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